I like your pick for the ladies! USFSA can easily say, look, we've simply sent our two top ladies to the team event. It's straight forward and it would give Polina added exposure, possibly helping her in the individual event. But it might be awkward to leave Ashley off the team, like they are hiding her or don't believe in her or something. And if she's not on the team and thus not in the headlines, will that make her more of an afterthought, heading into the individual event?

Men, I don't know. Your pick would probably be wise, I suppose, based on nationals. But I hope Jason doesn't nail it at teams only to falter in the individual. I guess that's what gymnasts have to deal with every Olympics.

One thing I am completely sure on is Edmunds will NOT be used in anyway in the Team Event. They will either have Gold do both programs (quite possible), Wagner do both (very unlikely this happens after Nationals) or them split (most likely IMO and what I hope happens).

What I would do:
One thing I am completely sure on is Edmunds will NOT be used in anyway in the Team Event. They will either have Gold do both programs (quite possible), Wagner do both (very unlikely this happens after Nationals) or them split (most likely IMO and what I hope happens).

Why not, out of curiosity? Just because she is so new an untested? It's probably a good bet but it might also depend on how those three skaters are actually skating in the days leading up to the event. What if Edmunds is having much better practices than Ashley...

She wont be used since Wagner and Gold are considered as clearly the top 2 U.S skaters right now, despite Edmund's 2nd place finish at Nationals. Ashley has had by far the best international results of every U.S lady since fall 2010, and Gold is the new U.S Champion. They were 5th and 6th at Worlds. So Edmunds would not even be a consideration to be used. Furthermore she is likely to get hammered in PCS by international judges. Not a wise choice for the Team Event.

If Ashley is having really bad practices in Sochi, they would just have Gold do both programs.

Unless they decide that it would be too much for Gold and want to make sure she does well in the individuals. I mean, what do I know? nothing really but it'll be interesting to see how all the countries decide this. Scott Hamilton was discussing this in a recent interview with the NBC commentators, saying, what will Canada do with Patrick Chan, have him skate both programs or try to let him keep something in the tank?

It's very interesting. Gymnasts have to do this every Olympics. They have to be perfect in the team event and if they make it to the all-around they have to go and do the same thing all over again a few days later! and then again for the event finals...

Gracie said during the pre-Oly media summit that she'd like to split the team event with another lady (most likely Ashley) so that neither gets too tired before the individual competition, and that she'd prefer to do the FS now that she feels more confident about her ability to skate it well. As the reigning US champion, her input will probably carry some weight.

Polina shouldn't be on the team event roster at all. She's too green and untested, and even with a good skate, her PCS will be significantly lower than the other two American ladies' -- probably in the mid- to high-50s, a la Zijun Li (though, IMO, Zijun is far superior in that aspect of skating). That's more of a point difference than her TES can make up for.

What I think the team event should look like:

Canada:
Men - Chan for both programs
Ladies - Osmond for both programs
Dance - V/M for both programs
Pairs - M-T/M short, D/R long

I agree but Michael Slipchuk has already said Virtue & Moir will skate both programs. Totally unfair IMO as W&P are completely capable of contributing and would save V&M some energy. He has also said Reynolds will skate a program which IMO is not at all a good idea.

PTF, I think you know the following:

Each country is allowed substitutions in only two disciplines.

Pairs and men will compete for the individual medals in their disciplines before the ice dancers do.

I don't think it is unreasonable for any country to make their allotted two substitutions in pairs and men -- if saving energy is a consideration.

In the case of Canada:
Its pairs have a shot at the podium for their discipline, and Chan will be competing for the men's gold.
I don't think it is a matter of unfairness to Weaver/Poje.

Gracie said during the pre-Oly media summit that she'd like to split the team event with another lady (most likely Ashley) so that neither gets too tired before the individual competition, and that she'd prefer to do the FS now that she feels more confident about her ability to skate it well. As the reigning US champion, her input will probably carry some weight.

Polina shouldn't be on the team event roster at all. She's too green and untested, and even with a good skate, her PCS will be significantly lower than the other two American ladies' -- probably in the mid- to high-50s, a la Zijun Li (though, IMO, Zijun is far superior in that aspect of skating). That's more of a point difference than her TES can make up for.

What I think the team event should look like:

Canada:
Men - Chan for both programs
Ladies - Osmond for both programs
Dance - V/M for both programs
Pairs - M-T/M short, D/R long

I agree but Michael Slipchuk has already said Virtue & Moir will skate both programs. Totally unfair IMO as W&P are completely capable of contributing and would save V&M some energy. He has also said Reynolds will skate a program which IMO is not at all a good idea.

Another thought re the bright side for Weaver/Poje:
If Virtue/Moir skate both the SD and FD for the team competition, W/P and Paul/Islam will be free to march in the Opening Ceremony. As first-time Olympians, W/P and P/I surely will cherish that experience.
I'm sad that V/M will have to skip the Opening Ceremony in Sochi, but at least they already had the honor of marching in the Vancouver OC on home soil.

Another thought re the bright side for Weaver/Poje:
If Virtue/Moir skate both the SD and FD for the team competition, W/P and Paul/Islam will be free to march in the Opening Ceremony. As first-time Olympians, W/P and P/I surely will cherish that experience.
I'm sad that V/M will have to skip the Opening Ceremony in Sochi, but at least they already had the honor of marching in the Vancouver OC on home soil.

Why would they have to skip it? There are no events occurring during that day.

One thing I am completely sure on is Edmunds will NOT be used in anyway in the Team Event. They will either have Gold do both programs (quite possible), Wagner do both (very unlikely this happens after Nationals) or them split (most likely IMO and what I hope happens).

I really do not see the US using Polina for the team sorry to say. what if Jeremy, Polina and the pairs imploded and they didn`t somehow make the top 5 - this would be the hugest and most epic upset. But that could happen . though I think the States could win gold they are a very vulnerable team